Apparatus for treating skins



May 10, 1949. I s. DEMPSEY 2,469,536

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SKINS Filed April 11, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l Geo/ ye Dempsey May 10, 1949. e. DEMPSEY I 2,469,636

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SKINS Filed April 11, 1946 v v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ammo/wk G'eorc ge Dem 213g May 10, 1949.

Filed April 11, 1946 a. DEMPSEY 2,469,636

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SKINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gwvam tob or e Den use May 10, 1949. G. DEMPSEY 2,469,636

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SKINS Filed April 11, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 WW W May 10, 1949. DEMPSEY 2,469,636 i APPARATUS FOR TREATING SKINS Filed April 11, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /& w W WSW Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE Appllcithrlizlllllnlli, )ND. 861,190

The present invention relates to the treatment of skins for use as leather in the production of leather goods and wares, and wherein the skins are subjected to preparatory treatments for producing a product of high grade usable in producing leather goods of superior quality, such for instance as glove leather.

Skins designed for use in the production of goods of such superior quality are generally selected skins havin a desired texture, etc., given proper tanning treatments and then subjected to port is perforated to afford communication bethe various preliminary manipulative activities, including stainin dyeing or coloring to prepare them for the closing activities which render the skins properly conditioned for use by the manufacturer of the articles, the latter cutting the article blanks from the conditioned skin and fashioning the articles from the blanks.

The present invention pertains more especially to the period referred above as the closing activities, and bears more particularly upon two of the possible stages of such period, the broad principles of the invention being applicable for use in both stages, although the apparatus employed during one stage requires modification for use during the other stage.

One of these stages pertains to the cleanin and conditioning of the skin after it has been subjected to the varied preparatory services, the skin to be treated having been colored, dyed, or otherwise treated to give it the desired color, the treatment of this stage being to remove mill dust; to polish the faces of the skin; to put a nap on either or both sides of the skin and give the leather a soft and velvety feeling; and to break up the crusty feelin in the skin; and to stretch the skin. While skins are being referred to, it is apparent that materials other than skins may, if presenting these conditions, also be treated for their correction, and the invention contemplates such service. In this stage the activities include the delivery of air under pressure in producing these activities.

The other stage referred to pertains to the application of a coloring agent to the skin face or faces, in addition to performing some of the activities of the first form. The invention is especially adapted for service in connection with the production of a particular type of finish to leather, performing, by machine operation, the service which heretofore has been performed solely by hand; the treating agent in this service is liquid, the invention providing its application to the skin mechanically in place of the slow hand application. There are structural differences in the mechanisms used in these diflerent services, but the basic-features in both forms are similar.

structurally, the fundamentals of the invention utilized in the two uses indicated include the formation of a throat into which the skins are individually fed and within which the active treatment is provided. This throat is formed by a brush formed, of bristle tufts with the latter mounted on a hollow cylindrical support which is rotatable and power driven, the support being closed at one end; intermediate the tufts, the suptween the interior of the support and the exterior tuft zone. A second power-driven brush with its bristle tufts is mounted in parallelism with such main brush, the tuft zones of the two brushes having outer peripheries slightly overlapping to form a segmental zone provided by the overlapping ends of the tufts-the segmental zone forms such active treatment throat. The two brushes individually rotate in opposite directions so that, within the throat zone, the peripheries advance in the same direction.

In practice, the advance end of a skin is placed on the main brush and advanced by brush movement into the throat while a trailing zone is under manual control, the bristles within the zone flexing sufliciently to permit the skin to pass between the peripheries of the brushes within the zone without, however, eliminating pressure of the bristles on the skin faces. The advance of the skin is permitted to continue until a definite length-possible half the length of the skin-has passed into and through the throat; during the advance, if no material restraint is placed on the v skin advance, the skin advances freely and continues to rest upon the main brush; if the workman provides a restraint, there will be relative movement between the brushes and the skin faces; hence the manual control as to restraint will determine whether or not such relative moveof the skin is then subjected to a similar cycle.

Since there is no change in the direction of rotation of the brushes, the beginning of the withdrawal stage provides a positive and material relative movement between the brush peripheries and the skin faces, the value of which increases ing the skins.

. 3 t as the withdrawal movement develops, the brushes and skin then travelling in opposite directions. While the bristle flexing is in the same direction in both these stages there is a difference in' the flexed zone in the two stages. During the travel of the skin and brushes in the same direction, the flexing is mainly confined to the throat zone and its immediate vicinity, and if a slight resistance is provided to the advance, the brush bristle ends will provide a slight scraping action on the skin face and remove therefrom any dust and loosened crust that may be present; during the withdrawal period the flexing begins with the development of the material relative movement between skin and brush through the checking and subsequent withdrawal action. During the skin feeding advance, the flexing within the throat develops gradually to the mid-throat position and then gradually recedes, an action which tends to manipulate the skin; the flexing is substantially constant as to amount during the withdrawal thus providing a rubbing or polishing effect as well as tending to stretch the skin. Since the workman has control of the speed of withdrawal of the skin, the intensity of the latter activities is entirely under the control of the workmen.

When the invention is being utilized for cleaning the skins, the treatment agent is air de-' livered under pressure to the interior of the main brush from where it escapes through the perforations of the support into the tuft zone and into contact with the skin face, thus keeping the tuft zone free from accumulations of the material removed from the skin as well as producing a cleaning effect upon the skin itself. Where the invention is being utilized for coloring a skin face, the treatment agent is the coloring material in liquid form, introduced into the interior of the main brush, where it passes through the per- ,forations of the support and on to the tuft bristles; while there may be a delivery of the liquid to the skin by the bristle action during the initial skin advance stage, its greater effect is presented during the withdrawal stage due to the characteristics of the developments produced as the skin is being withdrawn and which, in effect, tends to provide for a proper permeation of the skin by the liquid agent during the skin withdrawal activities.

In a number of respects the invention apparatuses differ in connection with the two uses. For instance, with the cleaning use, in which air is the treating agent, the apparatus is designed to provide the air supply and to take care of the removed material; with the coloring use the treating agent is liquid, and the apparatus is designed to supply this, collect the unused liquid and re-use it. The two types of agents thus require changes in the apparatus, but the fundamental features are common, as pointed out.

Another feature of the invention is the use of means for eliminating the static electricityboth positiveand negativethat is present during the skin treatments, and the presence of which tends to increase the difficulties of clean- By neutralizing the static, the undesired material from the faces of the skins is removed with efficiency and rapidity.

To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be more clearly understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved constructions and comblnations of parts hereinafter more particularly Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus employed during the cleaning use,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section taken through the interior of such apparatus,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the apparatus including a longitudinal section of the main brush as utilized in such use,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3,

Figure '7 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus utilized in the coloring use,

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-section of the structure of Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view of the main brush section of the Figure 7 form.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive-which present one form of the apparatus employed when applying the invention to the cleaning of skins, I5 indicates a casing of suitable dimensions and generally oblong, and generally closed excepting at the upper portion of its front wall; since the interior is designed to contain the brush assemblies in which the brush lengths are sufficient to handle the largest skins utilized in producing the finished leather, the casing is of considerable dimensions.

Reference character l8 indicates the main brush, this being designed to provide the support for the skin during the treatment'and hence is located at the front of the interior of the casing with a portion of its periphery exposed at the open front zone of the casing; since the workman engaged in manipulating the skins has his station at the front, the axis of brush I6 is arranged at such vertical height as to locate the top zone of the brush periphery at such height as to enable the workman to readily position the skin upon such periphery en route to the throat presently described, such peripheral zone being exposed for the purpose. The brush has a considerable diameter since it must provide a considerable extent of supporting area for the skin beyond the throat during the skin treatment heretofore explained.

The tuft zone of the brush is carried by a cylindrical supporting member l1, the end zones of which are of reduced diameter, the latter being designed to be received in suitable annular members l8 carried at the opposite ends of the casing and which form bearings for the rotatable member l'! to not only support the brush but to assure stability under the pressure conditions which may develop in service. One end of member I1 is permanently closed, with the other end open. A drive shaft l9 extends axially through the member I! and through the casing ends; the closed end of the member I! is'keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft to rotate therewith, while the open end of the member is connected with the shaft by a spoke assemblage 20 also keyed to the shaft with the outer ends of the spokes secured to the reduced end zone of member l1. As a result, rotation of the shaft positively rotates the member I! but without the shaft being required to sustain the weight and pressures of the brush-these functions being provided'for by the annular members 18.

Cylindrical member 11 carries the tufts 2| of th brush, the latter being secured to the member in suitable manner and arrangement, and project outward from the member to a desired extent. The tufts are formed of suitable bristles which tend to preserve their normal positions but which can fiex or yield in service. Member I1. is also provided with perforations 22 intermediate adjacent tuft bases, these serving to permit passage of the treating agent from the interior of the member to the tuft zone.

In this form and use the treating agent is air under pressure which is delivered into the interior of the member l8 located at the open end of the brush cylinder l1 passing through such end into the interior of the cylinder. Since the air is under pressure, it passes out through the perforations 22 into the tuft zone and into contact with the skin which may be present on the brush. However, inasmuch as a segment of brush I6 is exposed at the front of the casing to permit operations by the workman, it is necessary to prevent the escape of this air into the workmans position, and for this purpose, a shield 23 is mounted within the cylinder and supported on shaft l9 by suitable bearings 24 located adjacent the ends of the cylinder and connected by a sleeve 24a, the assembly being arranged to permit free shaft rotation therein, the bearings and sleeve being connected with the shield by arms 25. As seen in Figure 3, the arcuate length of the shield is more than 180, thus amply protecting the workman, the air escape being limited to the side of the cylinder which faces the interior of the casing. Since the shield, in this position, would be unbalanced, the position is maintained by the use of a weighted counterpoise 26, also loosely mounted on shaft l9 and connected with bearings 24, the counterpoise serving to maintain the shield in such position, although both the shaft l9 and the cylinder I! are rotating.

Mounted within the casing and extending parallel with shaft [9, is a second shaft 21 on which is mounted a second brush 28, having a tuft-supporting core 29 secured to and rotating with shaft 2! and provided with tufts 38. Shaft 21 is so located that the periphery of the tuft zone of this brush will slightly overlap the periphery of the tuft zone of brush l6, as indicated in Figure 3, thus producing a segmental zone in which, in the absence of a skin, the tuft ends of both brushes will overlap. When, however, a skin is placed on the tuft zone of brush l6, rotation of the latter will advance the leading edge of the skin in the direction of this zone, and since both brushes are so rotating that the tufts of both brushes within this segmental zone are advancing in the same general direction, the skin will be drawn into the zone with the bristles of the tufts flexing sufficiently to permit the passage of the skin between the two tuft zones; as the tuft zone advances through the throat zone the bristle flexing enables the skin to advance, the

bristles resuming their normal condition when passing out of the throat zone. This provides the throat characteristic heretofore referred to.

The advance of the skin is at a rate which is controlled by the workman, who can permit it to be at the rate of advance of the tuft zone, or, by resisting the advance of the skin slightly, can set up a small amount of relative movement between the skin and the tuft zones; however, due

- "6 to the fact that the tuft zones and skin are advancing in the same direction, any actual relative movement is small and of little effect since the direction of flex of the bristles is that which would tend to produce a trailing effect of the bristles. As the advance progresses the portion of the skin that has passed'through the throat remains on the tuft zone of brush it, due to the weight of the skin, until it reaches the vertical; should the workman permit advance of an excessive length of skin, the leading end will pass downward in the vertical path and reach a brush (fl-presently describedthe tuft zone of which is rotating in a direction which would carry the skin away from the lower portion of brush i6 and therefore without harm to the skin. Hence, the length of skin so advanced can be variable; in practice, about half of the total length is permitted to advance into and through the throat, the actual amount being determined by the workman who first checks the advance and then draws on the skin to withdraw the advanced portion by pulling the skin in the reverse direction through the throat.

As is apparent, the instant the skin advance is checked, there is a material change in the conditions. Since the bristles have resumed their normal condition after leaving the throat, the under side of the momentary stationary skin beyond the throat is being subjected to the sweep of the ends of the advancing bristles to loosen and remove dust, etc., from the face; within the throat, the bristles remain flexed in the trailing direction. When the workman begins to pull the skin in the reverse direction, the direction of movement of the skin becomes that of the direction .of flexure of the bristles, thus carrying the flexure also within the zone of the brush which is actually supporting the skin beyond the throat, thereby causing all the bristles which are contacting the under face of the skin to have such trailing characteristic, with respect to the direction of advance of brush l6, and since the skin and brush are advancing in opposite directions,

the skin is being subjected to the rubbin action of the bristles. As a result, the skin is not only being stretched but is also being polished because of such bristle-rubbing action. And since brush 28 has its bristles passing through the throat in the same direction as those of brush IS, the flexing action on the bristles of brush 28 will also be similar to the actions thus described, so that both brushes co-operate in the stretching and polishing action, as well as to such cleaning action as may be provided by the flexed bristles.

The brush 3| is mounted on a shaft 32 extending parallel with shaft I9 but below a horizontal plane through the axis of brush [6, its position being such that its tuft zone will slightly overlap the tuft zone of brush l6. However, the direction of rotation of shaft 32is such as to cause the ends of the bristles of brush 3| to advance through such overlapping zone in opposite direction to those of the bristles of brush [6, thus setting up counter-activity within such overlapping zone. As a result the bristles of brush IE will be cleaned of dust, etc., which may have collected employed, if needed. Shaft is is driven by a suitable motor 38 mounted at the opposite end of the casing to that shown in Figure 2.

The air supply for brush I8 is obtained by connections with a supply station (not shown) by the use of suitable pipe connections, the latter being exemplified by the vertical pipe 31 (Figure 3) located at one end of the casing and the horizontal extension thereof 31* (Figures 4 and 6) which opens into the chamber at the open end of brush iii. The air is supplied under a desired pressure from the supply station, and enters the interior of brush l6 under such pressure conditions; as heretofore explained, this air escapes through the perforations 22 not covered by shield 23, into the tuft zone of the brush and onto .the skin face which may be in position on the brush beyond the throat, escaping into the interior of the casing; when a length of skin has, passed the throat sufficient to pass into the vertical position, the escaping air will also contact such portion. As is apparent, dust, etc., which may have been freed from the face of the skin within the throat will be carried outward into the interior of the casing, which is dimensioned sufliciently large as to permit a settling action therein.

To avoid the development of excessive pressure within the casing the latter may include an outlet 38 preferably protected by a dust trap --indicated diagrammatically at 39. In addition,

the casing includes a suction box 40 (Figure 3) extending along the front of the casing interior beneath brush iii, the upper wall 40 of which is arcuate and is located in proximity to but spaced from the path of the tufts of brush l6 within the zone in which perforations 22 are covered by the shield 23. Wall 40 is provided with a longitudinal series of openings 48*. The suction box is connected with the air supply station through suitable connections exemplified by a vertical connection M which forms the outlet of a header 42 having branches 43 which open into the box. The connection 4| may lead to the intake side of the air supply station, which with the air taken from the connection and supplied from the suction box providing a suction efiect at openings 40' which tends to draw air from th tuft zone together with such material as had not been eliminated from such-zone by brush 3|. The front of the suction box is formed with a movable cover 40 (Figure 1) which permits the suction box to be readily cleaned.

Due to the fact that the relative movement of skin and brushes tends to create electrostatic effects on the skin surface, a condition which tends to cause dust, etc., to adhere to the skin, the assembly includes a well-known form of neutralizer or ionizer, indicated diagrammatically at 48, and which is serviceable to neutralize such condition to thereby permit the ready removal of the undesired material, as dust, etc., from the surface of the skin.

- In service, the workman introduces the skin by placing the leading end upon the periphery of brush I6 while retaining the trailing portion under control as to advance. When the leading edge has entered the throat, the brushes l6 and 28 co-operate to advance the skin through the throat as the workman permits. Whenthe desired length has been advanced through the throat, the workman checks the advance, and

, then begins the withdrawal; generally, approximately half the length of the skin is permitted to so advance, then be withdrawn, after which the ends of the skin are reversed and the cycle,

repeated. Since the skin is being introduced under workman control, it is apparent that the skin is readily positioned in a smooth form since the workman can check either or both side edges to correct any variations from a desired condition, thus smoothing out the portion of the skin that is passed through the throat. and 8ssuring that, during the withdrawal portion of the cycle, the skin is properly positioned for proper stretching action produced by the resistance provided by the brush rotation; and since the brush bristles are flexed within the throat and beyond, the desired polishing effect is produced with the maximum value provided within the throat zone. Throughout the cycle, the workman is in complete control during both the feeding and withdrawal of the skin, through controlling the speed of the skin travel, making it possible to give each skin the individual treatment which-its characteristics require.

Referring to Figures 7 to 9, inclusive, which presents the form of apparatus used for coloring or dyeing the skin, the specific structure differs in certain respects fromthat above described, but the fundamental features remain, as heretofore pointed out. In this form brush 28 remains as before, but brush i5 omits shield 23 and its counterpoise and has its open end closed excepting for a central zone. Brushes 3| and 33 are also omitted, as is outlet 38 in the casing. The change from air under pressure to a liquid (not under pressure) necessitates certain changes structurally, and these will now be described;

Reference character 50 indicates a supply tank for the liquid treating agent-the dye being used for the skin coloring operation. A valved connection 5| leads from the tank to the axial zone of brush l8 through the central opening at an end of the brush, discharging into a cage-like formation 52 carried by shaft is and contacting the end wall of the brush; the side wall of the formation is slotted or otherwise formed to permit content of the formation to pass into the interior of the member I! having the tufted zone and perforations 22. In other words, the internal arrangement of brush I8 is such that the lower portion of the rotating member I1 provides a receptacle for the liquid and capable of setting up the conditions of a pool supplied from tank 5!] through connection 5|, it being possible to provide a pool of considerable depth within the brush due to the partially closed end of member l1.

Since the liquid is not under pressure, it will ooze from the pool through the perforations 22 on to the brush tufts and be carried thereby around to the upper portion of the travel path en route to the throat. Since dripping is possible from the'tufts, a collecting segment 53 is located below the tuft path of travel and in proximity to such path, the segment having an arcuate length approaching An outlet from the segment is located at the nadir point of the latter. to which connection 54 is secured, the connection leading to a small pumping station 55 operative to raise the content of the connection to be discharged into tank 50*, through connection 56; if necessary, the segment may be tapped at different points longitudinally of the segment with proper connections leading to the pumping station.

Hence, a circulating system is provided for the dye or coloring liquid by means of which the liquid content not actually taken up by the skin is restored to the supplytank for re-circulation, elim- 9 I inating any material wastage of the dye through use of the'invention. One advantage from this lies in the fact that a pool may be employed in that the tuft bristles including the outer ends of the bristles will be liberally covered by the dye in the lower portion of the travel path, but tends to reduce the draining of the bristles when traversing the upper portion of the path, so that the end zones of the bristles will be amply wetted when reaching the travel. path of the skin- And, due to the arrangement of the tuft formations, there is assurance that the entire surface of the skin will be brought into contact with wetted bristles during skin travel in contact with brush IS; in addition, the fact that the travel of both brush and skin during skin feed is constant in direction, the application of the dye to the skin will be uniform in characteristic.

As with the first form, the skins, in practice, are fed into and through the throat under workman control, until about half the skin length has been advanced, whereupon the workman first checks the advance and then begins to withdraw the skin in the reverse direction; since the brushes are being constantly driven during the period, the skins travel with -the brush during the feed portion of the cycle, and opposite the brush during the withdrawal portion of the cycle. Due to the overlap of the brush ends, there is a certain amount of bristle flexing to permit travel of the skin between the brushes. Hence, as the leading edge of the skin nears the entrance to the throatwith such edge resting on the periphery of brush Iii-initial contact of the approaching bristle ends of brush 28 with the skin tends to apply pressure on the skin and hence to the ends of the bristles of brush "5, tending to set up a slight retarding action on the yieldable bristles to begin a flexing action; as the skin continues to advance, the flexing is increased for obvious reasons, becoming greatest at the point where a line connecting the axes of shafts I9 and 29 passes the skin travel path, after which the flexing decreases and practically ends when the throat is passed.

During the withdrawal action, the flexing variation in values present during the advance tends to become constant throughout the length of arcuate contact .of the skin with brush 16, due to the fact that a definite relative movement is set up between the advancing tufts and the skin, the relation tending to make the flexing more nearly uniform as to value throughout the arcuate contacting area; this is especially true during the withdrawal action during which the relative Y movement condition reaches its maximum value.

This same development is present with the other form of apparatus, but becomes of definite importance where the apparatus is being used for coloring with the treating agent in liquid form. This is due to the fact that flexing of the bristles tends to place the bristles with the sides-especially the side of the end zone of the bristle-in contact with the skin ratherthan the, end alone. As a result, the action of the bristles tends to take on a wiping or rubbing characteristic rather than a scraping action such as would be provided by the ends alone.

While brush i6 brings the liquid agent into contact with the skin face during the advancing 10 movement of the skin with the bristles flexed in the throat zone, the contact at such time is under conditions of little or no relative movement between brush and skin; hence, the agent at such time practicallyrests in contact with the skin and can permeate into the skin as the brush and skin advance together. These conditions-change when the skin advance is first checked and the skin th n withdrawn, due to the relative movement se up between skin and brushthe bristles then constantlychange position relative to the skin face with the'result that the agent is being wiped off of the bristles by the skin face during the relative movement.

During the relative movement period, when the laden bristles first contact the face at such time the bristles'are fully laden, but as the wiping action takes place the amount of the agent carried by the bristles grows less and less during the brush advance, decreasing the amount taken up by the skin-the bristles may lose practically all of the agent during the advance prior to reaching the pool arcuate zone, where a new supply is provided. Obviously, this action has a development effect on the skin of a different character from that of the skin feeding stage due to the travel of the'skin in the reverse direction-- since the maximum amount of agent is being delivered to the skin on initial contact of a bristle and grows less and less as the bristle advances, the portion of the advanced skin most remote from the point of initial contact, receives the least amount of the agent, with the supply to the intervening -length varying progressively; hence, as a skin'zone is being wtihdrawn, it is moving in a direction such as to receive increasing amounts of the agent as it progresses, .and i receiving the maximum amount as it is passing out of contact with the brush, this latter point being reached after the zone has passed through the throat in such reverse direction. And since the travel is accompanied by a rubbin actionunder pressure conditions within the throat itselfit is apparent that the, permeation of the skin by the liquid agent is. provided not only efliciently but with thoroughness and uniformity, through the steady accretion effect progressively developed and which is rubbed in as the skin progresses, finally receiving the maximum accretion as it passes out of contact with the brush.

This regimen i applicable for all skins and liquid dyeing agents,-but is especially valuable in the production of special skins such as those used in the production of the product known to the trade as antelope suede. Heretofore, this product has been produced only with the coloring or dyeing provided by workmen manually-a tedious and time-consuming operation. This stage in the production of this particular leather canbe provided by the form of apparatus just described, making it possible to produce this grade of leather by machine operation instead of manually, with substantially equal product value, but at greatly reduced cost in time and labor.

This form also includes the static neutralizing means 44.

As is apparent, the apparatus, in either of its forms, will provide eflicient service and provide results of a superior nature, thus making the structures especially useful in leather-working arts such as glove manufacture in which theunder the control of the workman throughout the operation. While the operation is such as makes it advisable to divide the skin length into areas and thus appear to duplicate action, instead of a continuous operation, -the time for completing theskinactivity is not excessively lengthened, and the superiority of the product more'than compensates.

While 'I have herein shown and described several forms of the invention, and indicated. possible uses thereof, it is apparent that changes and/or modifications therein may be found essential or desirable in meeting the various exigencies of service and the desires of individualusers; I therefore reserve the right to make any and all such changes and/or modifications as may be so found as desirable or essential insofar as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims, when broadly construed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In apparatus for use in the treatment of tanned skins, a casing, a power-driven hollow rotary brush mounted therein with the brush tufts supported by an annular support perforated intermediate the tufts, said annular support having one end closed to control static pressure, a powerdriven second brush mounted in the casing for cooperation withthe hollow rotary brush with its axis in a horizontal plane spaced above and rearwardly of the vertical axis of the hollow brush, said casing having a relatively large opening in the front wall thereof exposing adjacent portions of the front and top sides of the hollow brush and a portion of the front side of the second upper brush, said brushes being mounted in parallel relation for individual rotation in opposite directions with their axes so spaced as to-provide a zone within which the tuft ends of the brushes contact opposite sides of a skin with the skin supported by the hollow brush prior to the action on the skin by both brushes and with. the lower side of the skin contacting substantially 180 of the upper circumference of the lower hollow brush when held by the operator and the upper side of the skin contacted by the upper brush.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 characterized by means for supplying a skin treating agent to the interior of the rotary hollow brush for passage through the perforations of the brush support to the brush tufts en route to the skin surface undergoing treatment.v

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 characterized in that the skin treating agent is air supplied under static pressure active to cleanse loosened crusts dust, and the like from skins with the cleansing action within the casing, the apparatus including a suction-producing unit operative in the cleansing of the'tuft zone of the first brush and positioned to limit its effectiveness to the immediate vicinity of a peripheral zone ,of such first brush.

4. An apparatuses in claim 1 characterized in that the casin also carries a power-driven brush co-operative with the first brush periphery to brush the latter and an additional brush co-operative with the periphery of the second brush to provide a similar action for that brush.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 characterized in that the treating agent is air under pressure,

with the interior of the first brush carrying a shielding formation mounted on the brush shaft for preventing passage of such air from the interior of the brush through the brush within a predetermined zone of the travel path of such brush facing an open front zone of the casing.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that the treating agent is air under pressure. with the interior of the first brush carrying a shielding formation mounted on the brush shaft for preventing passage of such air from the inwith the shaft and a counterpoise also carried by,

the shaft but non-'rotative therewith and co-operative with the shield to maintain the position of the shield in presence of rotation of the shaft and the brush support. I

I. An apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that the treating agent is in liquid form and constitutes a coloring agent for a face of the skin, with the agent supplied .to the interior of the skin-supporting brush and applied by the tuft zone of such brush.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that the treating agent is in liquid form and constitutes .a coloring agent for a face of the skin, with the agent supplied to the interior of the skin-supporting brush and applied-by the tuft zone of such brush, the apparatus having an agent supply tank in delivery communication with the interior of the brush to provide a pool therein forming the immediate supply of the agent to thetuft zone through the brush support perforations.

. 9. An apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that the treating agent is in liquid form and constitutes a coloring agent for a face of the skin, with the agent supplied to the interiorv of the skin-supporting brush and applied by the tuft zone of such brush, the apparatus having an agent supply tank in delivery communication with the interior of the brush to provide a pool therein forming the immediate supply of the agent to the tuft zone through the brush support perforations, the apparatus also having means for collecting excess supply of the agent to the isitufniiizone and returning such excess ,to the supply 10. An apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that the treating agent is in liquid form and constitutes a coloring agent for a face of the skin, with the agent supplied to the interior of the skin-supporting brush and applied by the tuft zone of such brush, and further characterized in that the tufts of the tuft zone are of bristle type, capable of being flexed, flexure of the bristles being by and in presence of the skin be-' 'ing treated and active to increase the area of tuft zone of such brush, and further characterized in that the tufts of the tuft zone are of bristle type, capable of being flexed, flexure of the bristles being by and in presence of the skin being treated and active to increase the area of contact of 13 bristle and skin. the delivery 0! the agent to the skin being greatest in volume in the zone of initial REFERENCES crran The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,232,805 V Ruedebush Feb. 25, 1941 2,334,714 Knight Nov. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain Nov. 17', 1920 

